Scripture compares a healthy Christian life to running a race – one with twists in the course and hurdles along the way. Adversity, conflict, challenges, setbacks, the unexpected: life’s hurdles are many. A hurdle can slow a runner.
Athletes approach hurdles one of two ways. Some runners slow down, cross across the hurdle, and then resume running. Their races are less effective because the runner loses momentum. Other athletes learn to adjust their stride to maintain their speed. They clear hurdles efficiently in order to finish the race strong.
In other words, it is not the hurdle itself that presents the biggest challenge in a race, but the stride with which you approach it. Likewise, your approach to life’s hurdles determines whether or not you have a winning race strategy.
Is a Hurdle an Obstacle?
For the typical runner in life’s race, hurdles are negative obstacles that get in the way of a smooth, easy lifestyle. The difficult relationship, the financial challenge at work, the unexpected diagnosis, the prodigal child: these are a deviation from a comfortable, secure default mode and are to be avoided at all costs.
When a hurdle is viewed as something to avoid or simply a phase to “get through,” then a Christ-follower won’t adjust his stride – his attitude. Why should he? Once the hurdle is past, the runner seeks to forget it, reverting back to his previously comfy approach. The hurdle is a one-time event, he thinks. It won’t block his way again … or if it does, he can break his stride, figure out how to get through the crisis in survival mode, and then resume his comfortable pace.
The problem with that view is that it is not a very effective or healthy way to win a race.
Hurdles are Opportunities
The spiritually healthy Christ-follower sees hurdles differently – as opportunities. This approach identifies a hurdle for what it truly is: part of the race to be identified, considered, and adjusted to – not avoided, but be used to grow.
That’s why a healthy Christ-follower continually adjusts his stride. The difficult relationship becomes an opportunity to demonstrate God’s grace. A financial challenge is the chance to grow to trust God more deeply. A medical scare becomes a door to manage stress more intentionally. A wayward child pulls a believing heart out of complacency to a deeper dependence on God.
Clearing a hurdle successfully equips the runner to clear the next one even more efficiently. His stride improves. He builds upon each experience.
Can your life hurdles be opportunities? Yes … when you adjust your approach in how you view them and use them.
